Liquid-vending machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. S. W. COLLINS.

LIQUID VENDING MACHINE.

No. 593.414. Patented Nov. 9, 1897.

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(No Mndl.) 3 She ets-Sheet 2.

S. W. GOLLINS.. LIQUID VENDING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 9, 1897.

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' (No Model.) 3 SheetsSh eet s.

S. W. COLLINS.

LIQUID VENDING MACHINE.

No. 593,414. Patented Nov. 9, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

SAMUEL IV. COLLINS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE- FOURTIIS TO PARKHURST BROTHERS & 00., OF SAME PLACE, AND JOHN T. COLLINS, OF KOKOMO, INDIANA.

LIQUID-VENDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,414, dated November 9, 1897. Application filed May 14, 1897. Serial No.636,451. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL W. COLLINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid -Vending Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in vending-machines for dispensing liquids of the class that are adapted to be actuated by means of a coin dropped therein.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a machine of that class having recep tacles for liquids that may be filled while the case remains locked second, wherein the liquid to be sold cannot be removed except by depositing the necessary coin so long as the case remainslocked; third, wherein the quantities of liquid in either of the receptacles may be known without opening the case; fourth, a means for regulating the amount of liquid to be dispensed for a certain coin; fifth, a means for regulating the machine so it may be operated by coins of difierent denominations and weights; sixth, a means for catching and saving the liquid that would otherwise be wasted in the process of drawing the same without admixture with the waste water; seventh, a means for drawing the liquid to be sold either from the receptacle provided for said liquid or from a receptacle below or at' some distance from said means; eighth, to provide a vending-machine of the class described that will be simple in its Working and not likely to get out of order, and, ninth, that will prevent the loss of either the liquid or the money received therefor by reason of dishonest employees or customers.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the construction and combination shown in the accompanying drawings, .described in the following specification, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a rear View. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 7. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the machine, taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, with a portion of the upper tank broken away to show the filling device. Fig. 5 is an inner view of the operating mechanism, taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the pump and coin regulator. Fig. '7 is a top plan view with the casecover removed. Fig. 8 is an enlarged View of part of the pump-operating devices from the front to more clearly show their connection, and Fig. 9 is a detail view of a portion of the regulating device.

The case is provided with the hinged lid 1,

the sides 2, ends 3 and 3, and bottom 4. The

rear end 3' is adapted to slide out from the sides 2 and bottom 4 and is attached to a false bottom 5, upon which the operative mechanism is mounted, for the purpose of readily removing the mechanism and tanks from the case, thereby rendering the tank's and mechanism easily accessible for cleaning or repairing. The front end 3 has the faucetplate 6, the discharge-pipe bearing 6, and the coin-receiving plate 7. The drip-pan 8 is secured to the bottom 4 and is provided with the rim 9 and the partition 9, which prevents the mingling of the liquids in the drip-pan. The bottom of said pan has the perforations 10 to allow the liquids to pass into the recep-' tacles beneath, the drip from the water-faucet 11. passing into the receptacle 12 and running ofi through the drain-pipe 13, while drip from the discharge-pipe 14 passes into the recep tacle 12 and is saved. The accumulated liquid therein may be removed from time to time through the vent 15. The rear end 3' is provided with the lock 16, which secures the lid 1, and has the handle 17, by which it and the false bottom 5 may be withdrawn from the case when the lid is unlocked. The liquid-tank 18 rests upon the false bottom 5 and against the rear end 3', and the water-tank 18 rests upon the liquid-tank 18 and against the rear end 3', and each of said tanks is provided with a gage 19 upon the outside of the rear end, which indicate the quantities of liquid in each tank, respectively. The.

tank 18 is filled by meansof a funnel 20, which passes down through the tank 18' into said tank 18. In the lid 1 are filling-cups 21 and 21, which are provided with screw-cap tops, whereby they may be closed when not in use, thereby keeping out dust or other foreign substances. The filling-cup 21 em-pties into the water-tank and the cup 21 empties into the funnel 20. The discharge-pipe of the cup 21 is provided with an upturned end 22, which prevents the insertion of a tube to withdraw the liquid from the tank 18. The curved end 22 of the discharge-pipe has a very small opening 23 at its lower point, which serves to gradually drain the trap, yet is too small to admit of the insertion of a tube into the lower tank. The water-tank 18' has the discharge-pipe 24, which leads to the fancet 1 1. The liquid-tank 13 has the dischargevent 24', which is provided with a stop-cock 25, whereby the flow of liquid may be entirely shut oft. A T connection 26 is secured to the vent 24, and the supply-pipe 27 is secured to the connection 26 and carries the liquid to the pipe 28, which supplies the pump 29.

The type of pump used is double-acting, and the piston 30 is actuated by means of a spring and the outside lever 31, which is mounted upon the pipe28, which surrounds the discharge-pipe 14 and turns thereon. A lever 31 is mounted upon said pipe 28, back of the bearing 32, and is connected with said piston 30 by means of the link 33, attached thereto and to the slide-block 34 of said piston. An adjustable set-screw 56 forms a stop for the slide-block 34 and may be adjusted to limit or lengthen the stroke. A stout coilspring 35 is attached at one end to the outer end of the lever 31 and coils around the discharge-pipe 14 and surrounding pipe 28 and has its inner end turned at 36 and secured to the bearing 32. The purpose of said spring 35 is to throw the lever 31 back into operative position after it has been pushed down.

The pump, it is understood, is mounted suitably upon the base 37, which has a suitable way 38 for the slide-block 34. The coin and liquid regulating device is mounted between supports 39 by means of pivot-screws 40, which are locked in place by means of set-nuts 41, the pivot-points of said screws entering the ends 57 of the pivot-journal 42. A bar 43 is mounted upon the journal 42 and is provided at one end with the coinreceiver 44 and at the other end with the double rack-bar 45. A balance-rod 46, provided with the weight 47, is also mounted upon said journal 42, said weight being adapted to be slid back and forth and secured in the desired position by the thumb-screw 48. Adjustable contact-bars 49 are held yieldingly between the rack-bars 45 by means of the curved spring 50, which is secured at one end to one of the contact-bars and at the other end to the top of the rack-bar. A spur 51,

secured uponthe slide-block 34, passes into the rack-bar and is adapted to engage the lower teeth of said rack-bar when the lever 31 is on the downstroke and is held in contact therewith by means of the contact-bars 49, and on the upstroke said spur will be in contact with the upper teeth and to be held in contact therewith by said contact-bars. It will be understood that the normal distance between the contact-bars and the rackteeth is less than the thickness of the spur-51, and the respective bevels upon each end of the contact-bars 49 are to allow saidspur to enter between the bars and teeth, but when said spur has traversed the length of the bars the spring 50 presses said bars down, and therefore the spur upon its return will strike the beveled end of the bars and travel back to the starting-point upon the other edge of said contact-bars. The length of the con tact-bars 49 may be increased, thereby .increasing the length of the pump-stroke, and consequently the amountof liquid drawn, by extending the two sections, as may be easily done by reason of the continuous slots 52 in said bars by first loosening and again tightening the screws 53. The coin when placed in the opening in the plate 7 travels down the track 54 until it drops into the receiver 44, which tilts the bar 43 until the lower rackteeth come in contact with the spur 51, and as the lever 31 is pressed down the spur travels along the lower row of teeth below the contact-bars. WVhen the length of the rack-bar has been traversed, the spur passes the contact-bar and the coin-receiver 44 has been depressed sufficiently to allow the coin to pass out into the track 54, which conducts it into the coin tray 55. It will be understood that the opening through which the coin passes out of the coin-receiver 44 into the track 54 is of such size as to barely allow the coin to pass out. Therefore the coin will not escape until said opening comes exactly opposite a like-sized opening in the'track 54, at which time the coin will pass out into the track 54. The track and coin-receiver are so placed that the coin-openings in each come opposite each other only when the lever 31is pressed down. This prevents thecoin from discharging until the spur 51 has passed beneath the contact-bars and has started back to its normal position. The spur 51 having now passed the contact-bars 49 and the weight of the coin being removed from the receiver, the bar 43 will drop back, with the upper row of teeth engaging the spur 51, and the lever 31 is drawn back by the spring 35 to the starting-point. The teeth of the rackbars and edges of the spur are so formed that it is impossible to move the lever 31 except downward upon the first stroke and upward on the second stroke, thereby preventing the manipulation of the pump to secure a greater amount of liquid than that for which the machine is set, the contact-bars at all times holding the spur and teeth in contact and the shape of the teeth allowing a forward movement while passing beneath the contactbars and a backward movement while passing above said bars, but entirely prevent a backward movement while passing beneath or a forward movement while passing above them. By employing a double-acting pump liquid is drawn on both the up and down strokes.

In operation the large tank 18 is filled with water and may also contain ice, which serves the double purpose of keeping the water and the liquid in the tank 18 cool. The tank 18 is designed to contain the liquid to be sold, it being intended that the water supplied from the tank 18 shall be free. A coin placed within the slot 7 passes down the track into the coin-receiver 44, which tilts the bar 43, and thereby releases the upper toothed bar from the spur 51, which permits the downward movement of the lever 31, causing the pump 29 to draw a predetermined amount of liquid from the tank 18 and at the same time force a like amount from the dischargepipe 14. As soon as the downward moveinentof theleveris completed'the coin passes out of the receiver 44 into the track 54", and thence into the tray 55, and the bar 43 tilts back until the upper teeth strike the spur 51, when the coil-spring will draw the lever 31 back into the upright position shown in Fig. 5, thereby operating the pump on its return stroke and bringing the outside lever 31 into operative position. Said outside lever 31 cannot, however, be depressed until another coin has been deposited to tilt the bar 43, and thereby release the spur 51 from the upper teeth 45, said teeth being disposed as ratchet-teeth which admit of forward movement, but render backward movement impossible. Should it be desired for any reason to draw liquid from a source other than the tank 18, a pipe may be attached to the plugged end 58 of the T connection 26 and continued to any desired point from which said liquid is to be drawn. It will be seen that both tanks may be filled without unlocking the case and that the salable liquid contained in the tank 13 cannot be removed while the case is locked except by depositing a coin in the manner described, and then only in the quantities fixed; also, that the amounts of liquid in either tank can be readily ascertained by looking at the gages 19. The amount of liquid discharged through the discharge-pipe 14 for any certain coin may be regulated by shortening or lengthening the stroke of the pump 29 by the set-screw 56 and adjusting the contact-bars 49 accordingly. The bar 43 isregulated to tilt with coins of different weights by means of the weight 47. The liquid that may drip from the discharge-pipe 14 is saved in the chamber 12, while the waste water from faucet 11- passes into the chamber 12 and drains off through the pipe 13. From the foregoing explanation it will be seen that the proprietor is protected from loss of either the liquid or the money received therefor,

as the coin cannot be removed until the tray 55 is unlocked. Customers can serve themselves, and the machine needs no attention further than to replenish the tanks 18 and 18 from time to time, as the gages 19 may indicate that they require it.

Having thus described myimproved liquidvending machine, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States,

1. A liquid-vending machine of the class described, having a case provided with a false bottom 5, upon which the mechanism is mounted; a water and ice tank provided with a filling-funnel, mounted upon a tank for other liquids; a pump-operating device consisting of levers 31, and 31, mounted upon a pipe 28, which encircles the discharge-pipe 14, a coilspring 35, and a link 33, operatively connected with the pump 29, whereby the liquid is drawn through the pipes 27, and 28, from the tank 18; a pump controlling and regulating device, consisting of a pivotallymounted bar 43, having a coin-receiver 44, upon one end, and a double rack-bar 45, upon the other, adjustable contactbars 49, a spur 51, and balancing-rod 46, carrying a weight 47, and a liquid-saving drip-pan having a raised rim and a partition to separate the water from the other liquid; a receptacle to receive and hold the drippings of the liquid being sold, and a water-pipe to carry off the waste water, all substantially as shown and described.

2. A liquid-vending machine of the class described, comprising a case having a removable rear end and false bottom to which the mechanism is attached; a lid having tankfilling cups, one of said cups having a discharge-pipe with its end upturned, and a drain-opening in said upturned end; a front end carrying a faucet-plate, discharge-pipe bearing and coin-receiving plate; a drip-pan formed in two compartments, one of which receives and retains the drippings from the discharge-pipe 14, and the other receiving and carrying off through the drain-pipe 13, the drippings from the faucet 11; a pumpoperating mechanism consisting of levers 31, and 31, secured upon the pipe 28, which surrounds the discharge-pipe 14, a link 33, connectin g the lever 31, and with the slide-block 34, of the piston 30, and a coil-spring 35, attached to the outer end of the lever 31, at one end, and to the bearing 32, at the other; a pump controlling and regulating mechanism consisting of the bar 43, pivot-ally mounted between the supports 39, by pivot-screws 40, which are secured by set-nuts 41, said bar having the coin-receiver 44, attached to one end and the double rack-bar 45, to the other end; a curved spring 50, carrying adjustable contact-bars 49, secured to one of said bars, a balance-rod 46, having the weight 47, secured to the pivot-journal 42; a spur 51, secured to the slide-block and adapted to engage the rack-teeth 45; a double-acting pump 29, adapted to draw the liquid from the tank 18; a tank 18, upon the bottom 5, and having the outlet 24, provided with the stop cook 25, and having the filling-funnel 20, extending up through the tank 18, immediately below the discharge-pipe 22, of the filling-cup 21'; a tank 18', mounted upon the tank 18, and adapted to receive ice and water whereby the liquid within the lower tank may be kept cool; gages 19, to indicate the quantity of liquid in either tank; coin-chutes 54, and 54, and a coin-tray 55, all substantially as shown and described.

3. In a liquid-vending machine, having a tank for ice-water and a tank for other liquids, the combination of the case having the hinged lid 1, provided with the filling-cups 21, and 21, the removable rear end 3', the false bottom 5, and the front end 3, wit-h the pumpoperating devices consisting of the levers 31, and 31, the coil-spring 35, the revoluble pipe 28, the link 33, and the slide-block 34; and the pump controlling and regulating devices, consisting of the pivotally-mounted bar 43, carrying the coin-receiver 44, upon oneend, and the double rack-bar 45, upon the other, a weighted balance-rod 46, upon the pivotjournal 42, and a spur 51, mounted upon the slide-block 34, and adapted to alternately mesh with the teeth of the upper and lower rack-bars, substantially as set forth.

4. In a liquid-vending machine having a double-acting pump, the combination of the case having the hinged lid 1, provided with the filling-cups 21, and 21, the removable rear end 3', the false bottom 5, and the front end 3, with the pump-operating devices consisting of the levers 31, and 31, the coil-v spring 35-, the revoluble pipe 28', the link 33, and the slide-block 34; and the pump controlling and regulating devices, consisting of the pivotally mounted bar 43, carrying the coin-receiver 44, upon one end, and the double rack-bar 45, upon the other, a weighted balance-rod 46, upon the pivot-journal 42, and a spur 51, mounted upon the slide-block 34, and adapted to alternately mesh with the teeth of the upper and lower rack-bars, substantially as set forth.

5. In a coin-controlled liquid-vending machine, having tanks for storing liquids; a double-acting pump to draw liquid from one of said tanks; and a means for preserving the drippings of one of said liquids without admixture with the other, the combination of the pump-operating mechanism, consisting of the pipe 28, revolubly mounted upon the discharge-pipe 14, and having the levers 31, and 31, securely mounted thereon, the lever 31, being connected with the slide-block 34,

by the pump-link 33, and the coil-spring 35, secured at one end to the outer end of the lever 31, and at the other to the bearing 32, with the pump'controlling and regulating devices consisting of the set-screw 56, the spur 51, the bar 43, mounted between the supports 39, and having the coin-receiver 44, upon one end, and the double rack-bar 45, carrying the adjustable contact bars 49, yieldingly secured thereto by a curved spring 50, and adapted to hold the spur 51, in contact with the teeth of said rack-bars; and the balance rod 40, mounted upon the pivotjournal 42, said rod having the sliding weight 47, all as shown and described. i

6. A liquid-vending machine, combining a means for filling the liquid-holding tanks 18,

and 18 while the case containin said tanks remains closed, and a means for preventing the removal of liquid from the tank 18, except through the discharge-pipe 14; a means for drawing a predetermined quantity of liquid from the tank 18, when a certain coin is deposited in the slot 7 a means for regulat ing the amount of liquid to be delivered for a certain coin a means for regulating the pumpcontrolling device whereby it may be actuated by coins of different weights; a means for operating the pump 29, and a means for saving the waste from the discharge-pipe 14, separate from the water from the faucet 11, all as shown and described.

7. In a coin-controlled liquid-vending machine, the combination of the outer casing having a false sliding bottom 5, resting upon the fixed bottom 4, liquid-tanks 18, and 18', adapted to be filled while the casing is closed, a pumping mechanism 29, for drawing the liquid from the tank 18, a means consisting of a lever 31, a spring 35, and a link 33, for actuating said pumping mechanism, with the pump regulating and controlling mechanism adapted to be thrown into operative position by means of a coin, said mechanism consisting of a pivotally-mounted bar 43, a coin-receiver 44, upon one end thereof, and a double rackbar 45, upon the other end, adjustable contact-bars 49, yieldingly secured between said rack-bars 45, by means of a curved spring 50; a spur 51, secured to the slide-block 34, and adapted to engage the rack-teeth 45, and a balance-rod 46, secured to the pivot-journal 42, carrying a weight 47 all substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL W. COLLINS.

W'itnesses:

WM. M. DUNLAP, L. NATHAN. 

